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Portland abounds with summer Shakespeare butPortland Actors Ensemblehas been producing Shakespeare in the Parks for the last 45 years. PAE kick things off a culturally innovative outdoor productions Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

We’ll hear from director Elizabeth Huffman and actors Andrea White & Matt DiBiasio in Antony and Cleopatra + Artistic Director Michael Godsey tells us about A Midsummer Night’s Dream.And in the latter part of the Stage & Studio, another original audio art story from a recent graduate of Mt. Hood Community College’s Integrated Media program.

Portland’s theatre community has committed to producing every Shakespeare play, sonnet and narrative poem within a two-year period that started with 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth and culminates in the 400th anniversary of his death.

PAE opened with its first-ever production of the romantic historical tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra. Director Elizabeth Huffman brings a cultural awareness through her own Arabic roots to present Cleopatra closer to true Egyptian ethnicity in this complex love story.

This production promises to bring out the clash between modern and ancient cultures and tie the Machiavellian politics to modern sensibilities.

Antony and Cleopatra runs through July 29th at area parks. Please take a look at the schedule below.

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Sean Louis-Philipsen

We’ll hear from Sean Louis-Philipsen gives us an audio diary about having Asperger’s syndrome, often considered to be a high functioning form of autism. He presents this personal look, at what it’s like to go about his life in this radio piece titled “My Date With Asperger’s.”

More about the plays:Antony and Cleopatra is currently running through July 26th. A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs July 12 through Labor Day at parks around the area. Some performances will be ASL interpreted or audio-described. Visit www.portlandactors.com for specific dates and times of both productions.

ABOUT PORTLAND ACTORS ENSEMBLE: Founded in 1970, PAE is Portland’s oldest continuously operating Shakespeare company, and one of the oldest theatre companies in the area. In the past decade alone, over 50,000 audience members have enjoyed PAE performances. For the past 45 years, this group of professional actors has presented plays in parks throughout the metro region free of charge thanks to the generosity of members, corporate and individual sponsors, and audience members. Visit the newly updated website at www.portlandactors.com for more information.